Thank you for having this conversation as this is what I have been wondering. I have been coming to Orlando from the UK once 2001 and spent a year working in Orlando in 2005. I currently come twice a year. One of my family has a house in LBV and they come out for the whole of the summer and easter and october. My parents come for 10 weeks a year. So we are in Disney a lot.
When I came in March it was the first time I said, you know I dont think im that bothered about Disney this trip. I will do MK DAH as I want to do that but I have no real desire to see anything in the other parks. Instead we went to Universal. Dont get me wrong, I have criticised USO a lot and back in 2005 I had an AP and hardly went as I was so bored. But they have upped their game so much, Potter has just changed them not just in terms of revenue but in terms of the staff they attract. USO used to have a lot of the surly staff you saw in regular theme parks but I dont find that as much now.
I am looking forward to GE, although I am not a star wars fan but from what I can tell its just missing that certain magic, maybe its the topic, maybe its the way they have chosen to not recreate a film set but I dont see how its even in the same league as Potter or even Avatar.
Now we are going in October. My nephew who is 18 months will be with us and Disney is still the best for smaller children. We get very good 14 day tickets in the UK, the price of which has been going up quite a bit but there was a crazy offer on expedia with 25% off. The ticket which is 14 days unlimited access to all parks, water parks and photopass is about the same price as a 7 day base ticket.
What doesnt help for UK guests is the exchange rate which has not been great for a while but is particulary bad, add that to the price increase and Orlando is getting very expensive for British guests. The best way to see this is how few British voices you now hear at the outlets compared to mid 2000s when stuff was so cheap it was worth the vacation just for shopping.
I dont mind fastpass plus myself but it doesnt work as well for Brits generally. Being there for 2 weeks and wanting to do other things outside of Disney its difficult to want to plan for that period of time compared to maybe a 4 day vacation where there has to be some planning.
I also feel that Disney is just turning the screw a little, everything feels expensive and a bit like they are screwing us. I havent really felt that before. I want them to make money, I love some of the stuff they have done - Disney springs is fab but its always a fine line.
We used to always go
MNSSHP but not at the current prices or current crowds, the big perk was the shorter lines and without those then it offers little benefit for us.
My brother and wife have 3 girls, 5 platinum AP for last 10 years but they have decided to take a year off. They also havent renewed Tables in wonderland. Partly because 2 of the girls are teens and want to do more universal and less Disney and partly because they just cant justify that much money. My parents are moving to weekday only passes with blackouts.
Disney always walks a fine line and I am not unhappy for change, I love so much of what they do but the current pricing will rule out a lot of Brits who will focus on other attractions Orlando has to offer.